[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3688-H3689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DHS BLUE CAMPAIGN ENHANCEMENT ACT

  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2795) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance 
the Blue Campaign of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2795

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``DHS Blue Campaign 
     Enhancement Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BLUE CAMPAIGN 
                   ENHANCEMENT.

       Section 434 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     242) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (e)(6), by striking ``utilizing 
     resources,'' and inserting ``developing and utilizing, in 
     consultation with the Advisory Board established pursuant to 
     subsection (g), resources''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
       ``(f)Web-Based Training Programs.--To enhance training 
     opportunities, the Director of the Blue Campaign shall 
     develop web-based interactive training videos that utilize a 
     learning management system to provide online training 
     opportunities that shall be made available to the following 
     individuals:
       ``(1) Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial law 
     enforcement officers.
       ``(2) Non-Federal correction system personnel.
       ``(3) Such other individuals as the Director determines 
     appropriate.
       ``(g)Blue Campaign Advisory Board.--
       ``(1)In general.--The Secretary shall establish within the 
     Department a Blue Campaign Advisory Board and shall assign to 
     such Board a representative from each of the following 
     components:
       ``(A) The Transportation Security Administration.
       ``(B) U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
       ``(C) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
       ``(D) The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
       ``(E) The United States Secret Service.
       ``(F) The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
       ``(G) The Privacy Office.
       ``(H) Any other components or offices the Secretary 
     determines appropriate.
       ``(2)Charter.--The Secretary is authorized to issue a 
     charter for the Board, and such charter shall specify the 
     following:
       ``(A) The Board's mission, goals, and scope of its 
     activities.
       ``(B) The duties of the Board's representatives.
       ``(C) The frequency of the Board's meetings.
       ``(3)Consultation.--The Director shall consult the Board 
     established pursuant to paragraph (1) regarding the 
     following:
       ``(A) Recruitment tactics used by human traffickers to 
     inform the development of training and materials by the Blue 
     Campaign.
       ``(B) The development of effective awareness tools for 
     distribution to Federal and non-Federal officials to identify 
     and prevent instances of human trafficking.
       ``(C) Identification of additional persons or entities that 
     may be uniquely positioned to recognize signs of human 
     trafficking and the development of materials for such 
     persons.
       ``(4)Applicability.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
     U.S.C. App.) does not apply to--
       ``(A) the Board; or
       ``(B) consultations under paragraph (2).
       ``(h)Consultation.--With regard to the development of 
     programs under the Blue Campaign and the implementation of 
     such programs, the Director is authorized to consult with 
     State, local, Tribal, and territorial agencies, non-
     governmental organizations, private sector organizations, and 
     experts. Such consultation shall be exempt from the Federal 
     Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Barragan) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. 
Guest) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign is 
dedicated to raising awareness about the often-concealed crime of human 
trafficking. Each year, there are thousands of victims of human 
trafficking in the U.S. with numbers steadily increasing over the last 
20 years. Traffickers subject their victims to forced labor, debt 
bondage, or sexual exploitation by using violence, manipulation, or 
false promises.
  The DHS Blue Campaign works to combat this crime by educating law 
enforcement and the public on how to recognize the signs of human 
trafficking. Through outreach to local communities, industry partners, 
and law enforcement authorities, the Blue Campaign seeks to build on a 
foundation of human trafficking prevention and protection.
  The tactics and techniques that human traffickers use are evolving. 
It is crucial for the Federal Government to foster awareness in a 
sustained way and educate Americans on the indicators of human 
trafficking to identify victims.
  H.R. 2795, the DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act, would build upon 
the existing Blue Campaign by focusing on enhancing human trafficking 
prevention training opportunities and improving the development of such 
trainings and material. Specifically, H.R. 2795 would create an 
advisory board which brings together representatives throughout DHS to 
provide guidance on recruitment tactics used by human traffickers and 
inform the development of awareness tools.
  It would also require the Blue Campaign to create web-based training 
videos to reach the widest possible audience of law enforcement 
officers and correction system personnel, among others. H.R. 2795 has 
bipartisan support and was reported out of committee by unanimous 
consent.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                     Washington, DC, May 18, 2021.
     Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thompson: This letter is to advise you that 
     the Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to 
     review the provisions in H.R. 2795, the ``DHS Blue Campaign 
     Enhancement Act,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. 
     I appreciate your consulting with us on those provisions. The 
     Judiciary Committee has no objection to your including them 
     in the bill for consideration on the House floor, and to 
     expedite that consideration is willing to forgo action on 
     H.R. 2795, with the understanding that we do not thereby 
     waive any future jurisdictional claim over those provisions 
     or their subject matters.
       In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar 
     legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the 
     right to request an appropriate number of conferees to 
     address any concerns with these or similar provisions that 
     may arise in conference.
       Please place this letter into the Congressional Record 
     during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank 
     you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked 
     regarding this matter and others between our committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jerrold Nadler,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                                     Washington, DC, May 26, 2021.
     Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Nadler: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 2795, the ``DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act.'' I 
     recognize that the Committee on the Judiciary has a 
     jurisdictional interest in H.R. 2795, and I appreciate your 
     effort to allow this bill to be considered on the House 
     floor.
       I concur with you that forgoing action on the bill does not 
     in any way prejudice the Committee on the Judiciary with 
     respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or 
     similar legislation in the future, and I would support your 
     effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of 
     conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this 
     legislation.
       I will include our letters on H.R. 2795 in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill. 
     I look forward to working

[[Page H3689]]

     with you on this legislation and other matters of great 
     importance to this Nation.
           Sincerely,

                                           Bennie G. Thompson,

                                                         Chairman,
                                   Committee on Homeland Security.

  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2795, the DHS Blue 
Campaign Enhancement Act. As vice-ranking member of the Homeland 
Security Committee, I know how important it is for us to approach 
protecting this great Nation in a comprehensive manner by tackling all 
types of threats, including: hackers, terrorists, violent criminals, 
and human traffickers.
  Criminal organizations use human trafficking to fund their operations 
by defrauding, coercing, and exploiting both adults and children, 
forcing them into labor and commercial sex acts. The DHS Blue Campaign 
enables and empowers the DHS workforce and customer-facing industries 
they work with--industries such as airlines--to recognize the 
indicators of human trafficking and take the proper steps to alert 
authorities.
  H.R. 2795 enhances the Department's existing training opportunities 
by developing internet-based training programs to train Federal, State, 
local, Tribal law enforcement officers, and others as part of the 
Department's Blue Campaign. This important piece of legislation also 
established the Blue Campaign Advisory Board within the Department to 
coordinate Blue Campaign efforts and work cohesively to combat human 
trafficking.
  Empowering State and local law enforcement to recognize potential 
human trafficking is the first step in helping them assist these 
victims, many of whom have been told that they have broken the law and 
can't seek police assistance by their traffickers. H.R. 2795 does this 
and helps disrupt these criminal networks, which is an important 
component in dismantling criminals and the terrorists financing their 
acts around the world.
  I want to thank Representative Meijer for his leadership, and 
Chairman Thompson for moving this legislation out of committee, and I 
urge my colleagues to support this important bill to further secure the 
homeland.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am 
prepared to close after the gentleman from Mississippi closes. I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Meijer).
  Mr. MEIJER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2795, the DHS 
Blue Campaign Enhancement Act. This bill, which I am proud to have 
introduced with my colleague, the chairman of the Homeland Security 
Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability, 
Representative Correa, has one very specific goal, to combat human 
trafficking.
  According to the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report, 
every year, around the world tens of thousands of men, women, and 
children are trafficked, including far too many right here in the 
United States. Human traffickers use fraud and coercion to compel 
people into situations of forced labor or sexual exploitation. False 
promises of well-paying jobs, romantic relationships, and violence are 
all methods used by human traffickers. Victims can be any age, race, 
gender, or nationality and from any socioeconomic background.
  To curb this horrific practice, we must use a multipronged approach, 
and a critical component to this strategy is ensuring that law 
enforcement personnel and employees in customer-facing industries are 
trained to identify a potential victim of human trafficking by 
recognizing key indicators and taking appropriate action.
  DHS started the Blue Campaign in 2010 to do just that; to unify and 
coordinate Department efforts to address human trafficking. The Blue 
Campaign enables and empowers the DHS workforce and the industries they 
work with--including airlines and the public--to recognize the 
indicators of human trafficking and take steps to alert the appropriate 
authorities.
  My bill, the DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act, bolsters these 
efforts by creating an advisory board to inform and coordinate training 
among the DHS components to increase the efficiency and effectiveness 
of the training that DHS provides for its personnel, its industries, 
and State and local law enforcement partners.
  This legislation also increases the online trainings that DHS will 
provide, enabling the Department to reach a broader audience more 
quickly.
  I would like to thank my good friend from California (Mr. Correa) for 
joining me in this effort and supporting this important piece of 
legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to approve this bill and help DHS 
do its part to combat human trafficking.
  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge 
Members to support this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, DHS is uniquely positioned to address human 
trafficking through the Blue Campaign. H.R. 2795 seeks to build upon 
the success of the Blue Campaign, which was first established in August 
2010, and to bolster human trafficking awareness by ensuring that 
public-facing materials remain as current and accessible as possible. 
This is a worthwhile endeavor.
  Madam Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Barragan) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2795, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________